Abstract: A device implements a method of tracking objects on a touch surface of an FTIR based touch-sensitive apparatus.

Abstract: Touch sensitivity is enabled using a touch system that comprises a panel configured to conduct signals, e.g. by TIR, from a plurality of incoupling points to a plurality of outcoupling points, thereby defining detection lines across a touch surface between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points. A signal processor operates in a repeating sequence of iterations to: calculate change values for the detection lines representative of signal changes between the current and a previous iteration, and operate a reconstruction algorithm on the change values to determine a differential interaction pattern across the touch surface. The signal processor also operates to update a tracking pattern as a function of the differential interaction pattern, and generate a current offset pattern based on the tracking pattern. The offset pattern is generated to represent current touch interaction on the touch surface and is supplied for identification of touches on the surface portion.

Abstract: An apparatus is operated to determine the location of at least one object on a touch surface of a light transmissive panel. In the apparatus, an illumination arrangement introduces radiation into the panel for propagation by internal reflection between the touch surface and the opposite surface, so as to generate a grid of intersecting radiation paths in a sensing area, and a detection arrangement measures the transmitted energy in the radiation paths. A data processor then determines, based on the transmitted energy, the location based on an attenuation of two or more radiation paths caused by the object touching the touch surface within the sensing area. In the apparatus, the illumination arrangement generates at least a subset of the radiation paths by sweeping at least one beam of radiation along the touch surface.

Abstract: A touch-sensing display apparatus comprises a display unit with integrated elements, and a planar light guide located in front of the display unit so as to define a touch surface. At least one light emitter is arranged to emit light into the light guide for propagation by total internal reflection inside the light guide, and at least one light detector is arranged to receive at least part of the light propagating inside the light guide. The integrated elements are designed as image-forming elements and touch-sensor elements, wherein the touch-sensor elements comprise the emitter(s) and/or the detector(s) and are arranged along a periphery region of the display unit. The image-forming elements and the touch-sensor elements may be integrated in one and the same composite substrate within the display unit.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus operates by FTIR (Frustrated Total Internal Reflection) to detect touches on a surface of a light transmissive panel. An illumination arrangement is controlled to propagate light by internal reflection from an elongated incoupling site on the panel to an elongated outcoupling site on the panel, and a detection arrangement is controlled to detect light reaching the outcoupling site. The illumination arrangement is controlled to sweep a first set of individual beams of light along different subsets of the incoupling site to generate a full beam sweep along the incoupling site. Thereby, the individual beams are be controlled to generate a “sub-sweep” of the incoupling site, which enables a compact design of the illumination arrangement and/or use of comparatively simple sweep generating devices and/or identical re-direction components in the illumination arrangement.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus for determining a location of at least one object on a touch surface. The touch-sensitive apparatus extends in a direction of depth and comprises a light transmissive panel, a display arranged behind the light transmissive panel, and a first compartment and second compartment arranged behind the display. Light from a light emitter arrangement in the first compartment is introduced into the light transmissive panel for propagation by internal reflection. The light is thereafter coupled out to be received by a light detection arrangement in the second compartment. The first and second compartments are separated, such that light from the light emitter arrangement is prevented from reaching the light detection arrangement without first having propagated in the light transmissive panel.

Abstract: An integrated touch-sensing display is operated to detect the location of one or more objects on a touch surface. The integrated touch-sensing display defines a display area. A light guide (14) is arranged over the display area to define the touch surface (16). The light guide (14) is illuminated internally such that an object (20) contacting the touch surface (16) causes part of the illuminating light to be scattered towards the display area. An array of light sensors (6) is integrated within the display area to detect the scattered light. Based on output signals from the light sensors (6), a processing element obtains image data that represents the light that impinges on the display area excluding ambient light, and determines the location of the object (20) on the touch surface (16). Ambient light may be suppressed by a spectral passband filter in front of each light sensor (6), and/or by electronic filtering of the output signals from the sensors (6).

Abstract: Objects touching a surface portion attenuate transmitted signals. A data processor processes an output signal from a detector coupled to the outcoupling points, to generate a set of data samples indicative of detected energy for the actual detection lines. The set of data samples is further processed to generate a set of matched samples indicative of estimated detected energy for fictitious detection lines that extend across the surface portion in parallel groups at a plurality of different angles. The individual spacing between the fictitious detection lines in each group and the individual difference in angle between said groups are selected such that the set of matched samples transforms to Fourier coefficients arranged as data points on a pseudo-polar grid in a Fourier domain. The set of matched samples is processed by tomographic reconstruction to generate a two-dimensional distribution of an interaction parameter within the surface portion.

Abstract: Multi-touch sensitivity is enabled using a touch system that comprises a panel configured to conduct signals, e.g. by FTIR, from a plurality of incoupling points to a plurality of outcoupling points, thereby defining detection lines across the panel between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points. A signal processor operates in a repeating sequence of iterations to obtain (50) a current signal value for each detection line, and generate (53, 53?) a first interaction pattern and a second interaction pattern as a function of the current signal values, such that the first and second interaction patterns are reconstructed two-dimensional distributions of local interaction with the conducted signals across the surface portion, and represent changes in interaction on different time scales. Thereby, the movement of an object will affect how it is represented in each of the first and second interaction patterns.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus comprises a panel configured to conduct signals from a plurality of peripheral incoupling points to a plurality of peripheral outcoupling points. Actual detection lines are defined between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points to extend across a surface portion of the panel. The signals may be in the form of light, and objects touching the surface portion may affect the light via frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR). A signal generator is coupled to the incoupling points to generate the signals, and a signal detector is coupled to the outcoupling points to generate an output signal. A data processor operates on the output signal to enable identification of touching objects. The output signal is processed (40) to generate a set of data samples, which are indicative of detected energy for at least a subset of the actual detection lines.

Abstract: A coupling element (14) for use in a touch-sensitive apparatus is arranged to transfer light between an electro-optical device (2) and a panel (4) for light transmission. The electro-optical device (2) is an emitter or a detector and has an operative solid angle given by orthogonal device divergence angles. The coupling element (14) is an optical component with a first light transmission surface (21) for facing the electro-optical device (2), and a second light transmission surface (22) for mounting on the panel (4). The coupling element (14) has an optical structure (23) that directs the light between the first and second light transmission surfaces (21, 22) by one or more reflections while expanding one device divergence angle (?x) into a component divergence angle at the second light transmission surface (22). Thereby, the component divergence angle defines a divergence (?p) in the plane of the panel (4) with respect to light propagating by internal reflections inside the light transmissive panel (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a gesture interpretation unit and a touch sensing device, wherein the first and second positions are in a relation to a graphical interactive object corresponding to a grabbing input; and while continuous contact of the first and second objects with the touch surface is maintained: determining from the touch input data if movement of at least one of the first and second touch inputs has occurred, and if movement has occurred, moving the graphical interactive object in accordance with the determined movement; determining from the touch input data if an increased pressure compared to a threshold of at least one of the first and second touch inputs has occurred, and if an increased pressure has occurred, processing the graphical interactive object in response to the determined increased pressure.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to receiving touch input data indicating touch inputs on a touch surface of a touch sensing device, and from the touch input data: determining a touch input from a user object on the touch surface, wherein the touch input has a first area a1 and a geometric centre at a first position; and while continuous contact of the user object with the touch surface is maintained: determining a change of the geometric centre to a second position; determining a second area a2 of the touch input when the geometric centre is in the second position; comparing the second area a2 with the first area a1, and if the second area a2 is larger than the first area a1: determining that a special gesture has been detected; associating the special gesture with the GUI object; and manipulating the GUI object according to a predetermined action.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method whereby a user is provided with a gesture for e.g. editing work on a touch sensing device. By using two objects, e.g. two fingers, on a touch surface of the touch sensing device the user may zoom in or zoom out of a graphical element, halt the zooming, and thereafter crop the graphical element to define a new cropped element of the graphical element. The method makes use of a distance between the two objects, which is determined and monitored. The disclosure also relates to a gesture interpretation unit and to a touch sensing device.

Abstract: A method, gesture interpretation unit and touch sensing device receiving touch input data indicating touch inputs on a touch surface of the touch sensing device, wherein the touch input data comprises positioning data and pressure data for each touch input, and determining from the touch input data: first, second and third touch input from a first, a second and a third object on the touch surface, and wherein the first, second and third objects are present on the touch surface during overlapping time periods; and while continuous contact of the first, second and third objects with the touch surface is maintained: calculating a geometric centre of mass, and a pressure centre of mass, for the first, second and third touch inputs; comparing the GCM with the determining a movement vector based on the result of the comparison; and moving the graphical interactive object in relation to the movement vector.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus comprises a panel configured to conduct signals from a plurality of peripheral incoupling points to a plurality of peripheral outcoupling points. Actual detection lines are defined between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points to extend across a surface portion of the panel. The signals may be in the form of light, and objects touching the surface portion may affect the light via frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR). A signal generator is coupled to the incoupling points to generate the signals, and a signal detector is coupled to the outcoupling points to generate an output signal. A data processor operates on the output signal to enable identification of touching objects. The output signal is processed (40) to generate a set of data samples, which are indicative of detected energy for at least a subset of the actual detection lines.

Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus includes a group of emitters arranged to emit light to illuminate at least part of the touch surface, a light detector arranged to receive light from the group of emitters, and a processing element. Each emitter is controlled to transmit a code by way of the emitted light such that the code identifies the respective emitter. The codes may at least partly be transmitted concurrently. The codes may be selected such that a value of an autocorrelation of each code is significantly higher than a value of a cross-correlation between any two codes of different emitters. The processing element processes an output signal from the light detector to separate the light received from the individual emitters based on the transmitted codes, and to determine the position of the object/objects based on the light received from the individual emitters.

Abstract: A touch pad is controlled to detect a location of one or more objects (16) on a touch surface (15) of a transmissive element (12). The touch pad includes at least two scanning arrangements (24-26, 28, 29) which are configured as optical scanning transceivers. Each scanning arrangement is adapted to provide a beam of radiation along a pertaining direction (18) in the transmissive element (12), such that the beam propagates inside the transmissive element (12) by total internal reflection. Each scanning arrangement is also adapted to receive radiation from the transmissive element (12) and from the pertaining direction (18), and output corresponding signal. Each scanning arrangement is further adapted to scan the pertaining direction substantially along the touch surface (15).

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer-readable medium for determining a location of at least one object on a touch surface of a light transmissive panel. The method comprises the steps of: introducing light into the panel for propagation by internal reflection between the touch surface and an opposite surface; receiving the light propagating in the panel; and iteratively i) determining a current signal profile of light received by the light detection arrangement, ii) updating, when a condition is met, a background signal profile of light received by the light detection arrangement, iii) calculating a current compensated signal profile as a function of the background signal profile and the current signal profile and iv) determining, when the object touches the touch surface and thereby attenuates the light propagating in the panel, the location as a function of the compensated signal profile.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive system comprises a light transmissive panel defining a touch surface and an opposite surface; an illumination arrangement comprising emitters configured to introduce light into the panel for propagation in the panel in an emission pattern; a light detection arrangement comprising detectors configured to receive the light propagating in the panel. A control unit is arranged to control the operation of the touch-sensitive system. The control unit executes a control method to monitor the light received in the light detecting arrangement for detection of touches on the touch surface, the touches attenuating the light propagating in the panel. The control method also selects a mode for the emission pattern in dependence of the occurrence of touches on the touch surface and controls the emission pattern in accordance with the selected mode.